Fivemiletown United clinch victory in hard-fought encounter
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Fivemiletown United’s Jason Elliott beats his marker during their 2-0 home win over Blackers Mill in Mid Ulster League Intermediate A on Saturday.PM0513
Fivemiletown Utd 2
Blackers Mill 0
ON Saturday Fivemiletown United hosted a rejuvenated Blackers Mill, who arrived at the Valley Stadium with the intention of closing down the game by playing five across the middle and settling for the odd foray into the Town half in search of what might prove to be a winner.
The tactic succeeded in dragging the game into a hard-fought, but at times, entertaining midfield battle, however Fivemiletown eventually ran out winners by two-nil.
It was 25 minutes before the first worthwhile effort on goal. Jason Gillespie turned well in the box and his low shot forced Ballantine in the visiting goal to save well.
Chris McDowell's probing free-kicks paid off in the 30th minute, when a stinging delivery into a packed 18-yard box from the left rebounded off a Mill defender for the opener.
The only real threat from the Portadown men came just before the break - a looping cross evaded the Town backline for a Mill forward in space, who could only direct his header over the bar.
With 25 minutes left on the clock, the introduction of Stevie Erskine gave the Town an outlet for the greater possession they had enjoyed until this point.
He played in Jason Elliott who held the ball up well, before teeing up Sean McCaffrey, who drilled his shot wide.
With 10 minutes left, Erskine unlocked the Mill rearguard with a solo run and was unlucky to see his wicked shot creep wide of the upright.
Minutes later Erskine forced Ballantine into a fine save with his feet to keep the Mill's hopes of an equaliser alive.
But McCaffrey dashed those fleeting hopes a minute into stoppage time, driving superbly down the right flank, before driving a savage cross-cum-shot into the roof of a stranded Ballantine's net.
Town manager, Andy Parkinson, will be very pleased with the nature of these three points. The team battled hard and got the better of the tactics which the visitors sought to use.
McDowell was a threat all afternoon with quality free kicks and along with braveheart centre-half, Marcus Johnston, closed out anything the visitors had to offer.
Addy Williamson was a threat on the left side with some intelligent play and the desire of McCaffrey on the right side, bore fruit with that stunning winner.
Man of the match was Chris McDowell.
Fivemiletown: Chrissy Dynes, Ian Davis, Dessie Gilmour, Chris McDowell, Marcus Johnston, Ivor Johnston, Jason Gillespie, Neil Morrison, Jason Elliott, Sean McCaffrey, Addy Williamson, Ben Irwin, Stevie Erskine and Matty Callaghan.
The second team's game at home to Lisnarick fell victim to a heavy overnight frost much to the disappointment of a strong-looking second team panel.
Lisbellaw United Thirds 2
Fivemiletown United Colts 3
Gary McClean's charges found this outing rather more taxing than last week's engagement and had to scrap all the way for the points from this one. The three points gained sends McClean's team up to third place in the league.
Man of the match was hat-trick hero Geoff Sharpe, with good returns from Garry Campbell, Glenn McGuckin and Dougie Breen.
This coming Saturday the firsts are at home to Seapatrick. The seconds will travel to league leaders, Spamount Swifts, while the Colts host Beragh Swifts Reserves.
Training continues at Fivemiletown College astro-turf on Thursday nights at 7.15pm.
The first team player of the month for January went, for the second month in a row, to Chris McDowell. There was no award in the seconds due to a lack of games, while in the thirds Garry Campbell took the plaudits.
There will be a registration night tomorrow (Friday) between 7pm and 8.30pm in the clubhouse. All youth team players are asked to attend.
After last week's committee meeting the following managers have been selected for the club's youth teams - Davy McQuigg at U13 level; Chris McDowell at U14 level and a new dream ticket at U16 level when Geoff Sharpe, Gary McClean and Nathan Williams team up for the first time.
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